The official blog for Google Maps
A look back at Google Maps in 2015
December 31, 2015
2016 is just around the corner. Before we pop champagne and ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the enhancements we’ve made to Google Maps over the past year. From using Google Maps offline to discovering new places with Explore, we’re proud to not only get you from point A to point B quickly and easily, but to also help you explore the world around you with confidence.
Below is a list of the new features you might’ve missed, along with a handy chart showing you where you’ll find them. If you got a new phone this holiday season, now’s the time to give the
Google Maps app
a go.
2015 Google Maps New Features
2015 is ticking away, but you can take a look back at the places you’ve traveled with
Your Timeline
.
Always know when your favorite stores are open with
up-to-date holiday hours and alerts
.
Whether you’re in a parking garage with no signal or traveling in country with expensive data, search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation–all
offline
.
Always stay on the fastest route and beat bumper-to-bumper traffic with
real-time traffic updates and dynamic re-routing
.
Never run low on fuel with up-to-date
gas prices
in search results and on the map.
Make quick pit stops without long detours–
search for places along your route
without leaving navigation mode.
Find the
best local spots to eat and drink
with curated recommendations.
Get all your travel options and
compare ETAs across driving, walking, biking and transit
–all on one screen.
Get the scoop on when the lines are shortest and shops least crowded by checking businesses’
most popular times
–by day, by hour.
Get the lay of the land before you arrive by using
Street View thumbnail
.
Never miss a bus or train with
real-time transit information
(schedules, fares, updates) in more than 18,000 cities across 64 countries.
Get directions, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates from your wrist with the Google Maps app on
Android Wear
and Apple Watch.
To see these new features in action, take a look back at our
Maps Minutes Holiday Hacks series
.
2015 New Features by iOS and Android Availability
Feature
Android
iOS
Up-to-Date Holiday Business Hours and Warnings
X
X
Location Search and Turn-by-Turn Navigation While Offline
X
X
A Look Back at the Places You’ve Visited through “Your Timeline”
X
Real-time Spoken Traffic Alerts
X
X
Gas Prices on Map
X
X
Location Search Without Leaving Navigation Mode
X
Updated “Explore” Experience with New Curated Content
X
X
Compare ETAs on One Screen
X
X
The Most Popular Times to Visit a Business
X
X
Street View Thumbnails
X
X
Real-time Traffic View of Your Route
X
X
Directions and Turn-by-Turn Navigation on Wearables
X (Android Wear)
X (Apple Watch)
Join us in a virtual toast to a New Year of helping you explore and navigate your far away travels as well as your everyday life.
Posted by the Google Maps team
Maps Minutes Hack #8: Set your home and work addresses for easy navigation
December 23, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
It’s crunch time. There are holiday parties to attend and last-minute gifts to be bought and wrapped. When the holidays are only days away even the small things can make a difference. So here’s another helpful trick for how you can save a few extra minutes every time you use Google Maps for directions or navigation.
You can save your home and work addresses in Google Maps, and then select “home” or “work” rather than typing the locations every single time. Just go to “your places” on the side menu and you’ll see “home” and “work” under “labeled places”. Enter the address for each and next time you’re navigating to or from home or work, you can get your directions a little quicker and easier than before.
Every minute matters. Save more every day with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get home fast and safe on New Year’s Eve.
Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps
Maps Minutes Hack #7: No signal, no problem. Navigate your holiday travels with Google Maps offline
December 22, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
This time of year, millions take a road trip home for the holidays or adventure to faraway places all over the world. Whether you’re traveling abroad or rediscovering your own hometown, it helps to be able to navigate quickly and easily, even with limited mobile data or a spotty internet connection.
Google Maps offline
, now available on iOS and Android, can help you get the most out of your holiday travels. You can browse pre-downloaded map areas, search for places, get directions and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline. Because exploring the world shouldn’t require a data connection or excessive roaming charges.
To navigate offline, simply open the Google Maps app and save any area on the map while you have a connection. Search for a place like San Francisco or Mexico City, open the place card and tap the download button. You can adjust the size of the map area you want to download and name it. Once downloaded, that area will be automatically added to your Offline areas in the side menu.
Once you’ve saved a map area, you can search for places and get directions offline. Looking for that famous art gallery or a neighborhood watering hole? You can check out addresses, opening hours, phone numbers and even navigate there–all without internet access.
To explore and navigate the world offline, install the
Google Maps app
on your iPhone before your holiday journey, or open it on Android along the way.
Get the most of your holiday time with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get around faster and safer.
Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
Maps Minutes Hack #6: Find holiday hot spots with Explore on Google Maps
December 18, 2015
Part of our
series
on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.
If you're headed out on vacation, visiting friends and family in a new city or re-discovering your old favorite places over the holidays, this one's for you. With the Explore feature, available on both Android and iOS, you’ll feel like a local no matter where you are this holiday season.
Android experience
Android users in the U.S. can simply open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen to see local recommendations. You can get results for breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks among curated lists like “Where the locals go” or “Best spots for dinner with kids.” Once you’ve tapped on a list, you can swipe through place cards with more details like ratings, review snippets and distance from your location. Pick a place to see the address, up-to-date open hours, popular times, Street View imagery and more.
iOS experience
On iOS, just open the Google Maps app and tap on “Explore around you” at the bottom of the map to see recommendations of places to indulge and imbibe along with places to see and things to do. iPhone users can sort their options by how long it would take to walk or drive to the destinations as well as time of day. Curated lists range from “Local favorites” to “Quick bites” to a special “Featured by Zagat” option. The “Play & see” list will show you places to go like museums, historical monuments, live music venues and more. Simply scroll through the place cards to see abbreviated info and tap on your favorite to get more details.
Whether you’re using Android or iOS, save time this holiday season by checking the up-to-date open hours to make sure you don’t arrive to find a closed sign in the window and reviewing the popular times to avoid holiday crowds.
Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: searching for places and getting turn-by-turn directions—all while offline.
Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps
Today we turn 10!
February 8, 2015
For
10 years Google Maps
has made it easier to navigate and explore your world. If you hopped in your
DeLorean
for a trip back to before 2005, you’d remember the days when we were all dependent on paper maps, print-outs, post-its and sometimes even a compass for directions! Getting from point A to B is something we do all day, every day—from finding the fastest way to get to work, to dropping the kids off on a carpool route, to meeting friends for drinks at a new spot—so it should be as easy as possible. That’s why we created Google Maps and why we’ve spent the last 10 years figuring out better ways for you to get around.
Through projects like
Ground Truth
and passionate communities like
Map Maker
, we strive to provide you with the most comprehensive, accurate and useful maps. And with
Google Maps for mobile
, you no longer have to worry about getting lost or deciding where to go next when you’re on the move.
As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we hope you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map—together. A planet-size thank you to everyone who has navigated, explored and contributed to the map with us over the past decade.
Time for cake!
The Google Maps Team
Google Maps: Your best accessory this season
November 5, 2014
Bold colors and textures are in—and Google Maps is on trend, with a slick new style to make traveling with Maps even easier. Over the next few days, when you open up Google Maps on your Android or iPhone, you’ll be greeted by bright colors and a fresh new design. This new look is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world; with Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery.
Getting around with Google Maps is even easier with the new design
By tapping on a place’s info sheet at the bottom of your screen, you’ll send an info layer gliding up to the top, showing you photos, reviews, and more. And for the adventurous souls looking for a new place to dine or visit, you’ll see
more to Explore
at the bottom of your map.
Fluid transitions guide you through Google Maps
There’s more to this app than good looks—we also make it easier for you to get on with your day. Need to make a last-minute dinner reservation? You can now reserve a table right from the Google Maps app for restaurants found on OpenTable (U.S. only).
Make a restaurant reservation from Google Maps
On a cool winter day, a chilly walk or train ride may not always be the most appealing choice. Travelers
deciding
whether they should take an Uber or brave the frosty winds can now see estimates for Uber’s pickup time and price for their route in walking and transit directions in Google Maps. This option will appear if you have the Uber app installed, where available.
Wait time and price estimates for Google Maps’ Uber card
For Google Maps, giving you useful options and information is always in vogue. So as you’re traveling this holiday season, don’t forget to open up your Maps app for all the navigation help we have to offer—now with a fun new look.
Posted by Evelyn Kim, Google Maps UX Designer
Spend more time exploring with Google Maps
July 23, 2014
On vacation and want to know where the locals go? Looking for a new place to grab food on your lunch break? Waiting on the platform for your next train and wondering when it’s scheduled to arrive? Starting this week, you can spend less time searching for your answer and more time exploring the world with the Google Maps app for Android and iOS.
Now, whenever you want to discover places in your area, simply tap the new Explore button at the bottom right corner of your map to get a quick look at what’s nearby (where available). With Explore as your guide, you’ll see different places and activities that adapt to each area and moment throughout your day. This also works when you’re browsing other neighborhoods and cities on the map so you can plan your day’s outing or daydream about your next vacation.
The results you get in Explore not only tell you what’s nearby—and you can decide if “nearby” means a five-minute walk or a 20-minute drive—but they actually change based on context like the time of day and the weather, too. So don’t worry about wandering over to a breakfast spot for dinner, or arriving at the park just in time for a thunderstorm. You’ll get best results when you’re signed in with
location reporting and history
turned on.
Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you can get even more relevant information. If you’re using an Android device, tap on the My Location button at the bottom right or on the blue dot on the map, and you can quickly access more info about your location such as restaurant reviews and transit schedules, or simply save the place for later. Over time, your location experience will improve as you confirm the places you visit.
So next time you’re deciding where to brunch, or you want to check out your restaurant’s reviews while you wait for friends to arrive, open up your Google Maps app and Explore.
Posted by Taj Campbell, Google Maps Product Manager
Get a front row seat to the games with Google Maps
June 5, 2014
The world's biggest soccer tournament is here. Whether you’re watching from the comfort of your couch or packing your bags for Brazil, Google Maps is your ticket to the games. To kick off the tournament, starting today you can explore all
12 stadiums
and the iconic
painted streets
, one of Brazil’s tournament traditions, in Street View—a digital legacy of the 2014 games for years to come.
Exploring the sights and culture of this year’s football tournament has never been easier with Street View in Google Maps.
Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo - Maracanã, RJ
Rua Padre Agostinho Poncet, São Paulo, Brazil
In addition to the stadiums and painted streets, images from hundreds of sites across
Brazil
, including
Iguaçu National Park
and
St. Michael of the Missions
, are also now available on Google Maps. If what you see in Brazil whets your appetite, you can also explore new Latin American imagery in
Peru
,
Chile
,
Colombia
and
Mexico
.
And if you’re lucky enough to have a physical ticket to Brazil, don’t forget to pack Google Maps for mobile.
Transit
: With Google Maps transit available in all 12 host cities, Brazilians and visitors alike can rest assured they can make it to the stadium and other destinations routing the best path by bus or train.
Indoor Maps:
Make your way through more than 100 venues across Brazil, including airports, shopping malls and, yes, tournament stadiums with Indoor Maps.
Turn-by-turn navigation
: Zip through Brazil from Point A to Point B with Google Maps for mobile, giving you the most accurate traffic info, including real-time incident reports from Waze, and voice-guided directions.
So even if we can't help your favorite team find their way to victory, Google Maps is ready for the assist. You might be (or get) lost without it!
Posted by Deanna Yick, Google Street View Program Manager
Get on the road, go off the grid, or plan the perfect weekend with the Google Maps app
May 6, 2014
When your life is moving fast, you need tools to keep up with your pace. Google Maps for mobile is the perfect travel companion for your daily commute, weekend errands, and (much-needed) vacations. Starting today, you now have even more ways to avoid life’s everyday hiccups with Google Maps for
Android
and
iPhone/iPad
:
Don’t miss your next turn or exit.
The Google Maps app now shows you which lane to stay in or move to so you’ll never find yourself driving for miles down the wrong road. You’ll also have easy access to alternate routes while you’re navigating, so you can choose the best drive for you. To learn more about lane guidance availability, click
here
.
Don’t worry if you’re not online.
Before setting off on your next vacation, hike, or roadtrip, search for an area and tap on its place info sheet, then when available, you can select “Save map to use offline,” and give your map a custom name, like “Toronto Vacation.” To find your offline maps, sign-in, tap the profile icon next to the search box in the top right corner, and scroll to see “Toronto Vacation” and other saved maps.
Don’t be late for last call.
With new filters, you can browse through restaurants, bars and hotels by opening hours, rating, price, and more—where available—to find just what you’re looking for, right when you need it.
Don’t limit your options.
Frequent
Uber
rider? If you have the Uber app installed, you can now compare your ride with transit and walking directions right from Google Maps in some cities. And if you choose the Uber option, you’ll jump right into the Uber app with just one click.
Don’t miss that train.
With more than a million public transit stops on Google Maps, you’ll get reliable information to help you get where you’re going. Next time you’re in Chicago, search for directions to Lincoln Park Zoo, tap the train icon, and select “Depart at” to choose the time and day you want to leave—or even “last train home” for those night owls—so you get the most accurate transit information for your needs.
Don’t forget the park you wanted to visit.
See places you’ve saved on Google Maps across all your devices when you’re signed in. And if you find a place you want to save on the go, search for the location you’re interested in, tap on the place card, and hit the star icon to save the location for later.
Don’t wait to explore your next vacation spot.
Search for your ideal destination—anywhere from the Gateway Arch to the Taj Mahal—then tap on the place card to dive into Street View where
available
. You might even get a peek inside some hotels, restaurants, and more.
So, next time you’re caught up in a whirlwind of activity, make navigating your world a little easier. Take a moment to grab your phone, open up the Google Maps app, and find all you need to search, navigate and explore the world around you. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Posted by Jeffrey Hightower, Software Engineering Manager
New features ahead: Google Maps and Waze apps better than ever
August 20, 2013
No one likes getting stuck in traffic. That’s why the Waze and Google Maps teams are working together to harness the power of Google technology and the passion of the Waze community to make it easier to navigate your daily life.
Users of Google Maps for Mobile will now benefit from real time incident reports from Waze users. This means when Wazers report accidents, construction, road closures and more on Waze, the updates will also appear on the Google Maps app for Android and iOS in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, UK and the US.
The Waze community will also benefit from two new features. First, the Android and iOS versions of the app have been updated with Google Search. Wazers will now have access to even more search results when navigating. Google Search joins other search providers making it easy to find favorite businesses and any local address.
In addition, after a successful beta test, the Waze Map Editor now includes Google Street View and satellite imagery to build out the map and make it easier to correct map errors reported by the community. For more information, visit the
Waze blog
.
We’re excited about today’s updates and will continue to bring together the best of
Google Maps
and
Waze
.
Posted by Brian McClendon, VP, Google Maps
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